- A
Generate signed URLs or signed cookies for Cloud CDN.
Signed URLs and signed cookies are the correct way to restrict access to private content served via Cloud CDN.
- B
Use Cloud Armor to restrict access by IP address.
Why wrong: Cloud Armor is for security policies like IP allow/deny, not for user authentication.
- C
Use Cloud IAP to authenticate users at the load balancer.
Why wrong: IAP is used for access control but not for CDN served content; it would bypass CDN.
- D
Configure the backend bucket with a custom header for authentication.
Why wrong: Custom headers are not a standard method for authentication with Cloud CDN.
Question 458 of 1,000
PCNE Configuring Network Services Practice Question
This PCNE practice question tests your understanding of configuring network services. Read the scenario carefully and evaluate each option against the stated constraints before committing to an answer. After answering, compare your reasoning against the explanation and wrong-answer breakdown below. Once you have made your selection, read the full explanation to reinforce the concept and understand why each distractor is designed to mislead on exam day.
A company wants to expose a web application running on Compute Engine behind a global HTTPS load balancer with Cloud CDN enabled. They need to ensure that only authenticated users can access certain content. Which approach should they use?
Answer choices
Why each option matters
Answer the question above first, then reveal the full breakdown to understand why each option is right or wrong.
Correct answer & explanation
✓
Generate signed URLs or signed cookies for Cloud CDN.
Cloud CDN supports signed URLs and signed cookies to restrict access to content. Signed URLs are used for individual files, while signed cookies work for multiple files. IAP is for access control at the load balancer level but not specifically for CDN content.
Key principle: Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Answer analysis
Option-by-option breakdown
For each option: why learners choose it and why it is or isn't the right answer here.
- ✓
Generate signed URLs or signed cookies for Cloud CDN.
Why this is correct
Signed URLs and signed cookies are the correct way to restrict access to private content served via Cloud CDN.
Related concept
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- ✗
Use Cloud Armor to restrict access by IP address.
Why it's wrong here
Cloud Armor is for security policies like IP allow/deny, not for user authentication.
- ✗
Use Cloud IAP to authenticate users at the load balancer.
Why it's wrong here
IAP is used for access control but not for CDN served content; it would bypass CDN.
- ✗
Configure the backend bucket with a custom header for authentication.
Why it's wrong here
Custom headers are not a standard method for authentication with Cloud CDN.
Common exam traps
Common exam trap: answer the scenario, not the keyword
Many certification questions include familiar terms but test a specific constraint. Read the exact wording before choosing an answer that is generally true but wrong for this case.
Detailed technical explanation
How to think about this question
This question should be treated as a scenario, not a definition check. Identify the problem, the constraint and the best action. Then compare each option against those facts.
KKey Concepts to Remember
- Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
- Find the constraint that changes the correct option.
- Eliminate answers that are true in general but not in this case.
- Use explanations to understand the rule behind the answer.
TExam Day Tips
- Underline the problem statement mentally.
- Watch for words such as best, first, most likely and least administrative effort.
- Review why wrong options are wrong, not only why the correct option is correct.
Key takeaway
Answer the scenario, not the keyword: identify the specific constraint before choosing the most familiar-sounding option.
Real-world example
How this comes up in practice
A media company stores terabytes of video archives that are accessed once a year for audit purposes. Moving these objects to a cold storage tier (Azure Archive, S3 Glacier, or Google Nearline) costs a fraction of hot storage. Questions like this test whether you understand storage tiers, access frequency tradeoffs, and retrieval latency requirements.
What to study next
Got this wrong? Here's your next step.
Identify which PCNE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
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Configuring Network Services — study guide chapter
Learn the concepts, then practise the questions
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FAQ
Questions learners often ask
What does this PCNE question test?
Configuring Network Services — This question tests Configuring Network Services — Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer..
What is the correct answer to this question?
The correct answer is: Generate signed URLs or signed cookies for Cloud CDN. — Cloud CDN supports signed URLs and signed cookies to restrict access to content. Signed URLs are used for individual files, while signed cookies work for multiple files. IAP is for access control at the load balancer level but not specifically for CDN content.
What should I do if I get this PCNE question wrong?
Identify which PCNE exam domain this question belongs to, then review the specific concept being tested. Practise related questions in that domain and focus on understanding why each wrong answer is tempting — not just why the correct answer is right.
What is the key concept behind this question?
Read the scenario before looking for a memorised answer.
About these practice questions
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Last reviewed: Jul 4, 2026
This PCNE practice question is part of Courseiva's free Google Cloud certification practice question bank. Courseiva provides original exam-style practice questions with explanations, topic-based practice, mock exams, readiness tracking, and study analytics to help learners prepare for the PCNE exam.
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